Watershed Staff

Jeff joined the Watershed Institute in 1984, beginning his tenure here at the Watershed Nature Camp. He provides vision and direction to the Watershed Environmental Education program, working with a talented team of educators to promote a deeper understanding of science and our environment through direct engagement.  Much of his work is flavored with a deep love of the natural world. Prior to this Jeff worked at the Nature Center at Washington Crossing State Park and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory in California. Jeff earned a BS in Natural Resource Management – Wildlife Science from Cook College, Rutgers University. Jeff has earned numerous distinctions for environmental leadership including the Patricia F. Kane Lifetime Achievement Award for Environmental Education for the Alliance for Environmental Education, the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award from the Garden Club of America, and the National Medal of Conservation from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Jeff has had a lifelong love affair with nature and has a special fondess for aquatic habitats, the noctural world, National Parks, and sharing the joy of nature. He is an internationally published haiku poet. His first book, scent of juniper was published 2023. 

Pat Heaney joined The Watershed Institute in 2017 where she is known for developing creative environmental education programs for large groups. Before coming to the Watershed,she spent  over 30 years at Kateri Environmental Center where she ran many programs for children with special needs. Pat is a proud Girl Scout and recently was lauded for 30 years of volunteering with the Girls and training Girl Scout leaders. Pat was the President of the Alliance for NJ Environmental Education ( ANJEE) and still serves as chair of the awards committee. She has a degree in Environmental Studies from Ramapo College and a  Masters in Geography from Rutgers. She enjoys writing and is currently working on her third novel. 

Vicky Allen joined the Watershed Institute in 2014 as a part time educator. Before joining the Education Dept at the Watershed, she spent 20 years with Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ where she created and directed outdoor program at the 4 council properties. She oversaw the 3 summer day camps and was the director at the resident summer camp program. Vicky has maintained membership in ANJEE throughout her Girl Scout and Watershed careers. Vicky graduated from VPISU with a BS in Psychology. Vicky is passionate about gardening and teaching about the environment; she loves trees and their stories. When not at the Watershed, Vicky can be found hiking, geocaching and creating bird house gourds or fairy houses.  

Alison Novobilsky joined The Watershed Institute in 2013, as a part-time Watershed Educator. She teaches summer preschool programs, helps with family programs and school class trips. She helps maintain the Butterfly House and courtyard Caterpillar Hotels with some summer friends caterpillars and butterflies. Alison coordinates the Summer and Winter Fairy Festivals to help welcome families with young children to the Watershed. She also teaches at Cherry Hill Nursery School in Princeton during the school year. Alison worked at the Princeton Family YMCA as a Group Exercise Instructor for 20 years. Alison is passionate about the beauty of creation and loves empowering children with the responsibility of caring for nature.  Alison earned a B.S. degree in Animal Science at Rutgers University. When not at the Watershed, Alison is hard to find because she is hiking, swimming, kayaking, gardening, reading, painting, and playing with her ponies.  

Anna Hill joined The Watershed Institute in 2021.  Prior to that, she worked at NJ Audubon’s Plainsboro Preserve as the Lead Teacher Naturalist where she taught and developed lessons for Summer camp and other various programs. She also worked for a brief but formative time at The Waldorf School of Princeton as a Subject teacher bringing Orienteering, Bird Box Monitoring, and her love of Geology and Nature to the WSP community.  Anna is passionate about birding and loves to share the joy of nature with as many people as possible from all backgrounds in her role at The Watershed. Anna earned her B.A. in Biology from Rutgers New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences and enjoys going to Rutgers sporting events regularly with her family. When not at the Watershed, she can be found spending time with her family, including her two young children and two dogs, swimming and exploring new hiking trails with binoculars in hand. 

Davis joined The Watershed Institute in 2023, where he is one of the education interns for the year.  Prior to that, he studied marine science and sustainability studies at Stony Brook University, where he developed his love for the environment both on land and in the sea. Davis is passionate about empowering young people to fight for social changes they want to see and helping them get the tools and knowledge they need to do so. When not at the Watershed, Davis can be found hiking, reading, writing, coloring, and researching different kinds of sharks. 

Ayanna Johnson joined The Watershed Institute in 2023 as the Urban Education Manager. In her role, Ayanna spearheads the organization’s educational programming for schools and community groups in the Greater Trenton area, with a strong focus on expanding access to Watershed programs and promoting equity and inclusion. Ayanna’s early experiences with The Watershed Institute during her childhood left a profound impact on her, igniting her passion for the environment.  As a Girl Scout, she achieved the prestigious Gold Award and served as a camp counselor at Ewing Rec Camp, further deepening her connection to nature and community engagement. Ayanna pursued her academic journey at Rowan University in Glassboro, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She also excelled on the Women’s Basketball Team, breaking two records, earning the title of Defensive Player of the Year and serving as team captain for two years. During her time at Rowan, Ayanna served as the president of the school’s chapter of the sorority Sigma Gamma Rho Inc., where she further realized her commitment to both environmentalism and social and environmental justice. One of her sorority’s initiatives is a program offering swim lessons to children in black and brown communities recognizing a disproportionate percentage of drownings in those demographics.  In her free time, Ayanna enjoys performing spoken word poetry and all forms of poetry. She loves live music, laughter, and learning about the world around her.

Elizabeth Hinckley rejoined The Watershed Institute in 2023, thrilled to return after working here in the 2000’s in an administrative role.  She now serves as a Watershed Educator.  Prior to that, she worked at Tenafly Nature Center, where she taught a wide range of educational programs for all ages.  Elizabeth is passionate about her personal connection with nature, and loves helping others develop their own.  Elizabeth earned a bachelor’s degree in legal studies at Berkeley College, and recently spent an intensive year updating her scientific studies at Rutgers University, with a focus in meteorology and climate. When not at the Watershed, Elizabeth can be found nature journaling, birding, enjoying music and the arts, volunteering with nest boxes, and writing both novels and short stories. 

A lifelong passion for animal care and environmental education has been the driving force behind my career. Growing up in a farm family in Hillsborough, I developed a deep connection with nature from an early age. My involvement with the Somerset County 4-H allowed me to sharpen my leadership skills and gain hands-on experience in small animal care. Serving as club president and continuing to volunteer as a show judge have been meaningful ways to contribute to the community and pass on my knowledge to the next generation.

My fascination with reptiles, fish, and insects inspired me to specialize in creating self-sustaining ecosystems within the home. Years of experience working in pet stores deepened my commitment to advancing animal husbandry practices, particularly for reptiles and fish. I am passionate about educating the public on the importance of respecting and understanding all creatures—whether the smallest fish or the largest snakes—while advocating for responsible care and stewardship.

Joining the Watershed Institute perfectly aligns with my mission to inspire a greater appreciation for the diversity and beauty of the planet’s ecosystems, especially the often overlooked and misunderstood species that play vital roles in our environment.

Sarah first got aquatinted with the Watershed as an Education Intern in 2019, after graduating from Rutgers University. Since then, she worked as the Senior Educator at The New Weis Center in Ringwood, NJ, and then as a middle school teacher at Ridge and Valley Charter School in Blairstown, NJ. Along the way, she also worked as a field naturalist for NJ Audubon’s Monarch Project in Cape May, and led birding and ecology hikes for Passaic County Parks. Sarah’s an avid naturalist and especially passionate about preserving our local NJ ecosystems, always captivated by the diversity that remains present in such a small and populated state. She loves sharing this passion through teaching, with the belief that education is one of the most powerful tools we have in conservation. She is now attaining her master’s degree in biology through Miami University’s Project Dragonfly, studying the impacts of deer overpopulation on forest vegetation. In her free time, Sarah is usually found on a trail with binoculars and a loupe, finding great live music spots, or flying Cessnas as a private pilot.

Ryan returned to The Watershed Institute in 2025 as our Watershed Education Intern after serving as the Alliance for Watershed Education Fellow, here, during the summer of 2024. As her fellowship capstone, she created “Words of the Waters”, a tribute to water featuring youth voices from Sprout U School of the Arts in Trenton, NJ. She previously studied Business Administration at the Kogod School of Business at American University and brings over 10 years of experience working with children, starting at Ewing Recreation.

Her love and passion for nature, gardening, art, and the outdoors began as a young student at Princeton Day School and continues to shape her work today, using creativity as a bridge for environmental education. An avid gardener and naturalist, she especially enjoys plant identification and inspiring others to connect with the natural world.